Albany Area YMCA After school Program shows positive returns

ALBANY, GA (WALB) -

The Albany Area YMCA's 21st Century After school Program has significantly help a number of Dougherty County elementary students.

Last summer, the YMCA received a grant from the Department of Education for after school and summer enrichment. 125 children from Magnolia Elementary who were not succeeding academically were apart of the program.

After a full year of the program, 82 percent of regularly attending students met or exceeded the standard for reading with 84 percent doing the same in math. In addition, 76 percent of regularly attending students improved their classroom participation, 69 percent increased their homework completion rate and 56 percent showed significant progress in classroom behavior.

The kids from Magnolia Elementary will be moving to different elementary school following the closing of Magnolia but the program will continue.

"We are working on getting everything together for next year," said Program Director Erin Hutchins. "We will be going to Alice Coachman (Elementary School) and Live Oak (Elementary School) following our kids from Magnolia."

Albany Police are asking for your help solving two Albany homicides. "I don't care if a person thinks it's insignificant. Any and all information is good for us to have," said Albany Police Chief Michael Persley in a press briefing on Monday.

Albany Police are asking for your help solving two Albany homicides. "I don't care if a person thinks it's insignificant. Any and all information is good for us to have," said Albany Police Chief Michael Persley in a press briefing on Monday.